Has The Time Come To Discontinue The Miss America Pageant?

I think it should continue but be re-vamped to stress more intelligence and achievement. Get rid of the swimsuit portion. This used to be something that the whole family watched together. Now, no one I know watches it. Maybe my mom? Not even my single guy friends watch it for the swimsuits. The whole pageant is obsolete. Maybe rather than a scholarship (entering these pageants is already costly!), maybe they should be given grant money to do a project to help a community or start a non-profit?

Discontinued! If you think about it, This began back in a time when women were viewed more as pretty property than anything else. By having contests like this all we are saying is that women are just there to be looked at. And for shame at any woman who isn't pretty enough to win such a contest. Not to mention the image that is being conveyed to little girls. How about start a competition where intellectual women win with their brains. Show the world that woman are more than just a pretty face. We have brains and like to use them!

Time for this to be gone...not a positive model for children and teens. You're pretty, so let's give you stuff...you win?! Really?

I haven't even bothered watching this type of program for years now, I don't see any use for it and since my family is very active in doing charity work I think of all the uses the monies put forth to host this type of show could be used for. I also recall sitting there watching as a teen with my sister one of whom was not petite due to medical conditions and hearing her say there was no way someone her size would ever be welcomed in that "world". It may have started out with good intention but nowadays it just leaves a sour taste in peoples mouths.

I think it should absolutely continue. Last year I went to the MIss America Pageant and it was exciting, fun and educational. After the pageant I had the opportunity and great pleasure to meet Ms. Davuluri and she was very poised, graceful and down- to-earth. At the event, there were former Ms. Americas from different years that greeted all of the guests. It was like a girls night out together with friends. The women are very educated, talented and have a very positive point of view about life. The organization is about shaping young women into beautiful, strong, educated and successful women.

I think that beauty pageants are past their prime and should go

As long as they can keep the rating, it will continue. It is also a way to engage with the world by representing USA in competing in the Miss Universe.

I say keep the pageant. Every winner brings her own voice and area of awareness.

yeah it's time to end it. really a long time ago was the time

The only value I see is that it provides scholarships/money for school; aside from that, I think it does more harm than good -- coveting physical attractiveness ahead of brains, heart (good intentions), etc. I haven't watched a pageant in decades, and I could care less.

I remember setting the VCR....yes, I said VCR...when I was younger to record any type of pageant event. I loved watching them on TV. I would try to decide who I thought would make it to the top 3. I really enjoyed watching them. Unfortunately as I got older I realized I was not going to grow up and look like them and then started to lose interest in them. I see advantages and disadvantages to pageants. I love that you can get scholarship money and showcase a talent that you have. But I strongly dislike that this type of event puts even more pressure on women to look "perfect."

I think its' time has passed, a relic of another era. There are other ways for women to earn scholarship money,

Rsvp @Chynadoll2love

With all the problems in the world, I can't work up much of an opinion one way or another. Can't remember watching it for the last 30 years. If people are interested, that's okay. Otherwise, I'd let it die a natural death. It's no worse than the rest of popular culture.

Absolutely, it's passe and maybe for little girls, but us big girls could care less.